Zoonotic Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Exotic Pets from Shenzhen, China: A Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Surveillance Study

Authors:
  • YHYu He
    Yu He
  • ZXZhongyao Xu
    Zhongyao Xu
  • GGGuangchao Guo
    Guangchao Guo
  • BYBi-Li Ye
    Bi-Li Ye
  • XZXiaofeng Zhou
    Xiaofeng Zhou
  • DKDongfeng Kong
    Dongfeng Kong
  • RLRuoxuan Liang
    Ruoxuan Liang
  • JLJianhua Lu
    Jianhua Lu
  • ZZZhen Zhang
    Zhen Zhang
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Abstract
The rapidly expanding trade and ownership of exotic pets have created increasingly complex interfaces among humans, animals, and shared environments, increasing the potential for zoonotic pathogen spillover and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dissemination. Shenzhen is a major international port city with an active hub for the exotic pet trade, yet molecular epidemiological data on exotic pet-associated pathogens and AMR genes remain limited. In this study, tNGS was used to detect pathogens and AMR genes in 23 biological samples collected from an exotic pet park in Longgang District (n = 9) and an exotic pet hospital in Longhua District (n = 14), Shenzhen. Pathogens were detected in 95.7% of samples (22/23), with 35 pathogen species identified. The dominant organisms were Escherichia coli (56.5%), Enterococcus faecium (30.4%), Enterococcus casseliflavus (30.4%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (26.1%). Notably, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) was detected in one monk parakeet sample and should be regarded as a preliminary molecular screening signal requiring orthogonal confirmation. Eighteen AMR genes across seven resistance categories were detected. sul1 (56.5%) and vanD (52.2%) were the most prevalent, and carbapenemase-associated genes (GES, KPC, VIM, and IMP) were found in both exotic pet park and hospital samples. Park samples had a significantly higher total pathogen burden than hospital samples (t = 2.257, P = 0.035), whereas vancomycin resistance gene clusters were more frequent in hospital samples. These findings suggest that exotic pets in Shenzhen may serve as under-recognized reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and clinically relevant resistance determinants, supporting the integration of exotic pet trade networks into One Health surveillance frameworks and highlighting the need to strengthen border quarantine, veterinary infection control, and AMR monitoring.